Google Car
Did you know Nevada is now licensing robot cars? I heard a story on NPR discussing the Google robotic car and how Nevada has created a special licensing program with special plates to allow the use of the technology on public roads. Google has logged some 200,000 miles in the robotic cars on public roads to date. Equipped with laser scanners these machines can actually see things human drivers can’t. By continuously scanning the road and the area around the car it can constantly adjust speed and control braking to avoid collisions and operate completely autonomously.
The impact of this technology for motorcyclists is many fold. Years from now if these cars are in widespread use there may be fewer drunk drivers, text-ing teens and cell phone users on the roads and the robotic cars may be able to see motorcycles and react to them faster than human drivers can (the robotic car in the story was actually cut off by a motorcycle). I could also see it being employed for motorcycles (the military already has an autonomous motorcycle), not that they’d be fully robotic (what would be the fun of riding?) but they could be equipped with similar scanning technology that would alert the rider to things he wasn’t able to see himself like road conditions or obstacles ahead. Interesting technology, I had no idea it was this far along. Hawaii, Florida and Oklahoma are pursuing similar licensing legislation.
How long after flying cars will we have flying bikes, Star Wars style?
Then the fight starts alll over again.
Loud after burners save lives.
The fight to repeal the mandatory oxygen over 10,000ft laws.
LOL
Excellent article. I'll +1 that riding to work "takes the edge off the grind of the daily commute". I always have better days when I ride in. I'll be referring back to that one again. Great find.
But what about this?
http://www.motorcycleinsurance.com/this-is-your-b…
Ah, yes but then eventually the cars will fly, leaving the roads to us!
Your an optimist Bud. I see a much darker future when this technology becomes the norm. I see it starting with horse power limits and banning bikes from highways. Ending in a complete ban on vehicles so unsafe and uncontrollable (not computer driven) they are a threat to the public best interest.
But when 2 robotic cars collide who's insurance pays? Maybe whoever had the older firmware upgrade?
In the short term you right Don. In the long term I can see this being as ubiquitous as air conditioning and power windows and GPS in cars sold today.
Only people who really want AND can afford it will have this technology. This will make the vehicles far too rare to have any real impact on road safety for the general public. They are safer for their owner but the rest of us will still need to beware of those who feel their need to get somewhere out weighs the the risk they cause to everyone around them